Works by Polish composers will be performed on 13 March during the upcoming Cairo Symphony Orchestra concert featuring Ramzi Yassa on piano.

Titled ‘Homage to Krzysztof Penderecki’, the programme of the evening includes the composer’s Symphony no. 3.

This five-movement symphony was composed between 1988 and 1995, commissioned by the Munich Philharmonic to celebrate its 100th anniversary. It is considered one of the most important works by the Polish composer.

The evening will feature works by two other Polish composers: Witold Lutosławski’s Little Suite for Orchestra and Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11.

Composed in 1830, when Chopin was 20 years old, and shortly after he completed his studies at the Warsaw Conservatory, the Piano Concerto in E minor was in fact his second piano concerto, but it was the first one to be published, hence its ‘no. 1’ designation.

The performance with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ahmed El-Saedi, will feature Paris-based internationally renowned Egyptian pianist Ramzi Yassa.

Yassa pursued his formal education at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and received an honorary certificate at the 1974 Tchaikovsky competition.

The Egyptian virtuoso was the first Arab pianist to record Beethoven’s piano concertos, which he did with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Ahmed El-Saedi. He relocated to Paris in the 1970s, where he resides to this day.

He performs extensively in many countries and in some of the most prestigious concert halls, while cooperating with renowned conductors.

Yassa currently teaches at Paris’ École Normale and is a jury member of numerous international piano competitions held in Leeds in the UK; Santander, Carlet, and Kawai in Spain; Cagliari in Italy; Pretoria in South Africa; Missouri in the US; among many others. He also organises master classes in various locations across the globe.

Yassa continues to return to Egypt periodically for performances with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, other ensembles, or solo recitals.

Programme:
Saturday 13 March, 8pm
Cairo Opera House, main hall, Zamalek, Cairo

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